The review indicates that 85% of tenants were either ‘very satisfied’ or ‘fairly satisfied’ with their landlord and rental property. In 2006, the most recent data in England, 83 per cent of tenants reported similar satisfaction levels.
Where problems do occur, they tend to be related to response times for repairs and issues surrounding tenants’ deposits. The review found only a small minority of tenants suffer from poor standards, but reiterated the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring local authorities use their powers effectively in order to root out ‘rogue landlords’.
Commenting on the review, David Kendall, NLA Scotland, said: “It is quite clear from this latest government study that the private-rented sector in Scotland is flourishing. Satisfaction levels remain a little higher than in England but there is no room for complacency.
“It is no surprise to us that nine out of ten Scottish landlords are private individuals, couples or families investing for capital growth and not rental income. In this current economic climate, this investment strategy is going to be significantly challenged. What we must ensure is that all landlords become better informed about the residential lettings market and about their responsibilities towards their tenants.”
